| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a method of expanding tobacco, comprising the steps of providing the tobacco in a substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) with ambient pressure, wherein a pressure cylinder (12) is in fluid communication with the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27), the pressure cylinder (12) further comprising a piston (14); and moving the piston (14) of the pressure cylinder (12) such that the pressure in the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) is altered to a pressure different to ambient pressure. When the tobacco is provided in the substantially hermetically sealable chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) a first lock (5, 6) of the chamber (3, 4, 24, 25, 26, 27) is dislocated to create a first opening in the chamber, and the tobacco is inserted into the chamber through the first opening. After the tobacco has been expanded in the chamber, the second lock (7, 8) of the chamber is dislocated to create a second opening in the chamber, and the expanded tobacco is discharged from the chamber through the second opening. The present invention further relates to a tobacco expansion apparatus. |
